Gurindervir Must Set The 100m Standard—Just Like Neeraj In Javelin, Says Coach Happy Singh

Sprinter Gurindervir Singh etched his name in Indian athletics history, setting a new men's 100m national record at the Indian Grand Prix 1 in Bengaluru. Clocking an impressive 10.20 seconds, he shattered the previous mark of 10.23s set by Manikanta Hoblidhar in 2023.

Hoblidhar, running in the adjacent lane, also improved upon his own record with a 10.22s finish but had to settle for second place behind a determined Gurindervir. With this achievement, Gurindervir secured his berth for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships in May, comfortably surpassing the qualification standard of 10.25s.

Gurindervir's journey to this milestone has been one of resilience and determination. After clinching gold at the Inter-State Athletics Championships and the Federation Cup in 2024, he faced a setback at the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand, where he failed to qualify for the finals. Finishing third in his heats with a disappointing 10.96s, the setback, however, only fueled his comeback.

His coach, Happy Singh, revealed that the sprinter had confidently predicted his record-breaking run. "Gurindervir told me and James Hillier before the race that he would clock 10.20s," he stated.

Reflecting on his previous struggles, Happy Singh, who is also coach of sprinter Harjit Singh acknowledged Gurindervir's occasional lapses. "He has made such mistakes before-once in the U-18 category, he finished fourth in the heats. Sometimes, if he takes a race lightly, it doesn't go his way. But I had faith in him; his training performances were strong," he added.

Looking ahead, the expectations are high. "Gurindervir needs to set a benchmark in the 100m, just like Neeraj Chopra has done in javelin," said his coach, underlining the immense potential of India's fastest man.

From 10.69s in 2017 to a historic 10.20s in 2025, Gurindervir Singh's relentless pursuit of speed has finally rewritten the Indian record books. A defining moment for Indian sprinting.